A man from the West Midlands, who alleges he was sexually abused as a child in the 1980s, has described feeling 'dumbfounded' after a judge postponed his trial for two years. The case will now not be heard until July 2027, a full nine years after he first reported the crime to police.
A Decades-Long Wait for a Day in Court
The alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the Press Association his hands were shaking when he finally found the courage to call West Mercia Police in July 2018. He claims the abuse occurred nearly four decades earlier.
He states the force took two years to interview the man he accused. The Crown Prosecution Service did not bring charges until April 2024, with the case first appearing before a judge in the region in July 2025.
After mentally preparing for the trial to begin, he arrived at court only to be told it had been adjourned. "I just didn't have the words," he said. "I thought I was hearing things... It's incomprehensible that it's happening, after all this time."
The Crushing Weight of the Crown Court Backlog
This case is one of thousands caught in the severe crown court backlog. Recent Ministry of Justice statistics show the number of outstanding cases has risen by 9% year-on-year to 79,619. Government projections warn the backlog could reach 100,000 by 2028.
The alleged victim described the systemic delays: "All the way through the system, victims of particularly historic abuse are pushed down, pushed back all the time, and that's before you get to the court process and that pushes you back as well."
Key factors contributing to the crisis include:
- Long waits from cases affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
- A critical shortage of criminal lawyers.
- Historic reductions in court sitting days.
- The closure of crown courts over the last 15 years.
Reforms, Reactions, and the Quest for Justice
In response, Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced major reforms. These include plans to limit jury trials in England and Wales and repeal the automatic right to appeal magistrate court verdicts to a crown court.
The complainant said he supports limiting jury trials, believing it could bring more consistency. However, his primary concern remains: "I want justice, I know what happened, the other person knows what's happened."
Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, stated: "The huge backlog in our courts is denying victims the justice they deserve... These long waits undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system and allow too many criminals to get away with it."
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said their thoughts were with the complainant and others facing "an unacceptably long wait for justice," citing bold reforms and extra investment to tackle the backlog.
West Mercia Police declined to comment on the specific case due to active proceedings but reaffirmed its commitment to delivering justice for victims of rape and serious sexual offences.
